Swerve Strickland has shared his thoughts on celebrities in wrestling, saying there's a time and place for it.
He explained that fan reaction should be the basis for bringing celebrities into pro wrestling.
What happened at WrestleMania 42?
This year's WrestleMania major storyline featuring Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes was overshadowed by the additions of Jelly Roll and Pat McAfee.
The WWE fanbase did not welcome these additions.
Why it matters for Swerve Strickland
Swerve Strickland stated on the "REAL 92.3 LA" podcast that the connection to the fanbase is key.
He said that listening to the fanbase is crucial in determining the level of involvement of celebrities in wrestling.
The fanbase will tell you what they're receiving, and you have to feed them what they want.
What comes next for celebrity involvement?
Reports have alleged that TKO, WWE's parent company, had a say in the storylines heading into WrestleMania 42.
The inclusion of Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll was one of these storylines.
McAfee eventually opted out of the storyline.
WWE commentator Corey Graves conceded that the timing of McAfee and Jelly Roll's involvement was why fans didn't buy into it.
As of WrestleMania 42, the WWE fanbase has spoken out against excessive celebrity involvement.
Swerve Strickland's opinion on the matter highlights the importance of considering fan reaction.
He believes that celebrities can be involved in wrestling, but it has to be done at the right time and in the right way.
The WWE will have to take this into consideration for future events.
Swerve Strickland's comments come amid a larger discussion about the role of celebrities in wrestling.
Other wrestlers have also shared their thoughts on the matter.
The debate is ongoing, with no clear consensus in sight.
But one thing is certain: the WWE fanbase will continue to have a strong opinion on the matter.
And their reaction will be crucial in determining the success of future events.
So, the WWE will have to carefully consider their involvement of celebrities.
The outcome of WrestleMania 42 serves as a dated statistic: as of April 2024, 140,000 fans attended the event.